SYNTHETIC ROUTES TO PHOSPHIDO AND ARSENIDO DERIVATIVES OF THE GROUP 13 METALS ALUMINUM, GALLIUM, AND INDIUM, TRIS(TERT‐BUTYL)GALLIUM AND ITS REACTIONS WITH AMMONIA, AND THE ALUMINUM(I) SPECIES PENTAMETHYLCYCLOPENTADIENYL ALUMINUM TETRAMER

This chapter features the preparation of group 13–15 complexes of the organo-substituted group 13 metals aluminum, gallium, and indium, as well as different routes to the organoaluminum species {Al(η5-C5Me5)}4. Phosphido (R2P-) and arsenido (R2As-) derivatives of the heavier group 13 elements aluminum, gallium, and indium have been of interest for their potential as precursors to semiconductors such as gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium phosphide (InP). The chapter describes the syntheses of aluminum(I) organo derivative pentamethylcyclopentadienyl aluminum(I), {Al(η5-C5Me5)}4. The ammonia complex of tri-tert-butylgallane is a colorless crystalline solid with a melting point of 42–46 °C. The (AlCp*)4 tetramer is obtained by reacting freshly prepared (Cp*AlCl2)2 with a small excess of potassium in toluene under reflux. The chapter concludes with the synthesis of tris(pentafluorophenyl)aluminum as its toluene adduct. This was effected in a simple manner via the reaction of trimethylaluminum with commercially-available B(C6F5)3.